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Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata' is often confused with:
Cornus alba Cornus alba
Cornus sericea Cornus sericea red stem
Native alternative(s) for Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata':
Cornus alternifolia Cornus alternifolia
Cornus sericea Cornus sericea red stem
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cornus alba Cornus alba
Cornus sericea Cornus sericea red stem
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata' has some common disease problems:
Heat Stress Disorders

Variegated Dogwood Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata'

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Cornus sericea subsp sericea 'Argenteo-marginata'
Phonetic Spelling
KOR-nus AL-ba
Description

"Argenteo-marginata' or variegated Tatarian dogwood is a Tatarian dogwood cultivar. It is a large deciduous shrub with a distinctive variegated leaf pattern and has bright red stems during the winter. The shrub is multi-stemmed, erect, and usually has unbranched stems. It is a rapid grower and may reach a height of 8 to 10 feet tall. It may be pruned to become a small tree.

The species plant, Cornus alba or Tartarian dogwood is a native of eastern and central Asia or in areas inhabited by Tatars. Tatars are members of the Turkic ethnic group that live in Tartarstan, parts of Russia, and Ukraine. 

The genus name, Cornus, is from the Latin word, cornu, which means "horn,' referencing the hardness of the wood. The species name, alba, means "white." This references the white fruits.

The shrub prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate a range of soil conditions. The bright blood-red color appears on the new stems. In the spring, the oldest stems should be removed to encourage new growth. The shrub suckers and forms large colonies.

The leaves are grayish-green with creamy colored margins. During the fall, the leaves usually become rosy red and gold. The small creamy white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters in late spring. Fruits appear in the summer and are white with bluish-green tinges. The bright red stems are very showy during the winter months. 

The fruits are attractive to birds, and the shrub provides nesting sites.  Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bee such as Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilisAndrena (Gonandrena) Integraand Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.

This cultivar is reportedly synonymous with a cultivar named 'Elegantissima.' The preferred cultivar name has not yet been determined. 

The Tatarian dogwood is very similar to red twig dogwood, but it does not spread as vigorously. 

This plant is best used in groups or mass plantings. Naturalistic plantings in moist soils where plants are allowed to spread and form thickets will make for a low-maintenance landscape. Consider planting the variegated Tatarian dogwood along a property line as a screen. It may also be used as a hedge or shrub border. The bright red stem color adds interest to a winter landscape, and the variegated leaves will add interest during the summer. 

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage: Fall    Bloom: Spring   Fruit: Summer  Twigs: Winter

Quick ID Hints:

  • bright red stems during the winter
  • grayish-green leaves with creamy white margins
  • clusters of small creamy-white flowers bloom in the late spring
  • white drupes with tinges of bluish-green ripen during the summer
  • fall foliage are shades of rosy red and gold

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Leaf miner and scale are less serious potential insect pests. It can also become vulnerable to borers. When stressed, the shrub is susceptible to a large number of disease problems. The most serious is dogwood anthracnose. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot, and leaf & twig blight.  This shrub is more vulnerable to diseases in hot summer climates.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

 

More information on Cornus alba.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#interesting bark#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#shelter for wildlife#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#erosion control#showy stems#showy fruits#specialized bees#flowering shrub#deer resistant#cream flowers#red stems#blue fruits#variegated#border planting#screening#pollinator plant#white fruits#bird friendly#fall color red#fall color purple#bee friendly#hedge#wildlife friendly#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#interesting bark#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#shelter for wildlife#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#erosion control#showy stems#showy fruits#specialized bees#flowering shrub#deer resistant#cream flowers#red stems#blue fruits#variegated#border planting#screening#pollinator plant#white fruits#bird friendly#fall color red#fall color purple#bee friendly#hedge#wildlife friendly#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cornus
    Species:
    alba
    Family:
    Cornaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and Eastern Asia
    Distribution:
    Species native: Central European Russia, China North Central, China Southeast, East European Russia, Inner Mongolia, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, North European Russia, and West Siberia; Introduced: Europe-Bulgaria; US-IL
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. The fruits attract birds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Screening
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    rabbit, deer, erosion
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Green
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are white drupes that have a bluish-green tinge that appears during the summer.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small creamy-white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters in late spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are grayish-green with creamy or white edges. They are simple, opposite, and have entire margins. They measure from 2 to 4.5 inches in length. The fall foliage are shades of red and gold
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Grown for blood-red stems in the winter.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Erosion
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Weedy